After record spending in the January transfer window last year, this year has thus far been a bit of a bust. According to Transfermarkt, Chelsea’s pre-emptive swoop for Christian Pulisic accounts for nearly 60% of the Premier League’s spending so far this month. Manchester City, who failed to land a long-term replacement for Fernandinho in the summer, do not look likely to seek defensive midfield cover this winter—even if it is the position on the field with the least depth.

January at the Etihad, however, hasn’t always been a quiet month. Here follows a comprehensive guide to every City winter signing since the 2008 takeover, featuring a game-changing physical midfielder, a forward who flopped badly (and not in the Neymar sense) and a once-promising talent who is currently serving a prison sentence…

January 2009: The post-takeover recruitment drive

Remember the heady days of January 2009? Beyonce ruled the airwaves with her instructive missive...